pedestrian safety]
Last night, pedestrian advocates, interested citizens and PDOT staffers met at City Hall for the monthly meeting of the Portland Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC). This committee provides a forum for citizens to get involved in establishing goals and policies within the city that relate to walking.
City Traffic Engineer Rob Burchfield attended the meeting to present some new plans regarding crosswalk markings. At the end of his presentation, he told us about a new type of pedestrian sign that will be piloted in select locations around the city in the coming weeks.
This new sign is meant to raise awareness and remind motorists that they’re required by law to stop at all intersections when a pedestrian is present. It will be anchored into the ground and is spring-loaded in order to withstand an occassional bump from motor vehicles.
According to Burchfield, PDOT has purchased two of these signs and will run pilot installations at SE 17th and Center Streets and at NW 23rd and Marshall,
“We want to put these signs out in the field and see how they hold up to abuse before we invest in more of them.”
Committee member Erin Kelley shared her experience with these signs in another city and gave them an enthusiastic endorsement.
German
Spanish
French
Italian
Portuguese
Dutch
Greek
Japanese
Korean
Russian
Chinese
Excellent!
How about one to teach that unmarked crosswalks are just the same as marked ones?
Comment by Michael — October 18, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Michael’s suggestion is spot-on. Motorists don’t seem to know anything about unmarked crosswalks.
I do like the signs and hope they help!
Comment by joy — October 18, 2006 @ 5:16 pm
How about geting the local TV to do several on site reports with and without the sign. The sign is not required to enforce the law. Newspaper would be nice too. Maybe the PD could be encouraged by the Mayor to make their presence known.
Comment by Richard — October 18, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
Hi Richard,
What you suggest sounds similar to something the city and the Police bureau are already doing a lot of.
There have been several pedestrian enforcement actions where the cops go out to one spot and set up a decoy (once the Mayor was the decoy) and nab anyone who violates this law.
And yes, there was one of these held at an unmarked crosswalk.
But I agree with the other comments about needing to raise awareness of this law…and many pedestrian advocates are currently working with the city on a campaign to do so. Stay tuned!
Comment by Jonathan Maus — October 18, 2006 @ 8:07 pm
[…] This morning, PDOT officially debuted a new crosswalk sign on 23rd and Marshall in Northwest Portland. The signs, which I previously wrote about here, are meant to remind motorists that the law requires them to stop and stay stopped at all intersections, regardless of whether or not a signal or stop sign is present. [City traffic engineer Rob Burchfield.] […]
Pingback by I Share the Road » New crosswalk sign debuts in Northwest Portland — November 20, 2006 @ 12:20 pm
When setting up a decoy isn’t that entrapment. then a vechile eneters a uncontrolled perdestrain crossing. Now the pedestrain stands there still on the curb. Myself when I am a pedestrain when I see a vehcile approaching I wait tell he either stops or goes through until I step of a curb. Many people jump off without even looking. remember that old saying stop, look and listen. I happen to monitor the other day where they had a decoy set up to nab drivers. Then not 200 feet from the pedestrain crossing 4 people J walked. Then that was okay though traffic patrol wasn’t interested in that. A pedestrian or vehicle operator they both have to use a bit more common-sense. We don’t jump in front of a moving train then why a car.
Comment by gmac — January 18, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I see a lot of these “I share the road” signs along the side of the road. Although your motive is good, your effor in placing them here is in violation of the law. To me, they pose nothing more than an eye sore driving by them every day. How would it be if everyone with an agenda posted signs by the road? Unless the sign is posted by ODOT, you should only be using these signs on private property.
Advice: remove the signs from Shaddick rd.
Comment by driver — May 29, 2007 @ 3:11 pm